MUSKEGON, MI – Newly elected state legislator Collene Lamonte has had a whirl-wind of activity since Nov. 6 when voters in the 91st State House District in Muskegon County gave her a two-year term in Lansing.

State Rep.-elect Collene Lamonte, who will represent House District 91, took the oath of office on Dec. 10 at the Muskegon High School auditorium. She was sworn in by Muskegon County 14th Circuit Court Judge William C. Marietti, right. Ken Stevens | Muskegon Chronicle

Lamonte is taking time from her busy schedule preparing for Wednesday’s first session of the Michigan House of Representatives to interact with voters through an MLive and Muskegon Chronicle “live chat” Thursday noon.

The Democrat from Montague will address citizens’ questions online at www.mlive.com/

muskegon/. There are plenty of substantive and politically divisive issues facing state lawmakers as they begin a new year and a new term.

The “lame duck” session at the end of last year’s term resulted in new laws on right-to-work, elimination of the personal property tax and the emergency financial manager, to name a few. Gov. Rick Snyder is laying out his agenda for the next year that will include educational reforms, transportation funding, worker training and energy, among many others.

How will the freshman legislator handle those and all of the local issues specific to Muskegon County that need attention from Lansing? You’ll be able to ask the questions direct and interact with Lamonte.

MLive and The Chronicle hopes to continue citizen dialog with their state legislators as the new year progresses, inviting Rep. Marica Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, and Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, to future “live chats.”

If you have a question for Lamonte, leave it below in the comments section. Don’t miss the opportunity to get to know the community’s newest elected official this noon.